Big ‘Eck: Charity role is truly better than any medal
Barrhead’s most famous footballing son is set for a new off-the-ball role, which he says might be his biggest honour yet.
Alex McLeish has been unveiled as the first ever ambassador for a charity close to his heart.
He will take up the new role with The Catherine McEwan Foundation, the charity for sufferers of digestive tract disorders Crohn’s and colitis.
The former Scotland manager has told how the accolade means as much as any he lifted in his long-running football career, because his sons Jon and Jamie have colitis - chronic inflammation of the large intestine.
Alex, who grew up in Barrhead, said: “I’ll certainly be regarding the Catherine McEwan Foundation as one of my priorities and I will help the charity as much as possible by promoting it, raising awareness and I will do anything they want me to and anything I can do.”
The 62-year-old, who attended Springhill Primary and Barrhead High, added: “I’ve had a lot of awards in my career and not a bad football career, winning medals and stuff, but this is right up there with those things in terms of what it means to me.
“It means every bit as much and is something that I will absolutely give everything to 100 per cent.”
His family have long been supporters of the charity, he explains: “What they’ve done over the years is amazing and I’m proud to be a part of that and my son Jon has been a big part of it as well.
“He got me on board as an ambassador and I will strive to help with awareness and everything else I can do.”
Alex, who moved to Barrhead as a youngster, also attended Paisley’s John Neilson High School for a time.
He says awareness of the conditions has increased greatly since his sons were first diagnosed - thanks to the work of the foundation and high-profile sufferers, like footballer Darren Fletcher.
He added: “It’s amazing the amount of people you meet and they tell you that they have a stomach illness, whether Crohn’s or colitis.
“It’s quite remarkable and I think that hit the nail in the head - people don’t like to talk about it. It’s not like breaking your arm, it’s very private.”
Alex and wife Jill saw first-hand the impact, he said: “Jon was the first victim, then Jamie … it just seemed to come from nowhere and they battled with it.
“Jamie went as far as getting a stoma bag and the thing was the great technology now means that it can be reversible - he did this for what seemed like an eternity.
“I think Darren Fletcher did the same. He is inspirational and my two boys are my inspiration as well. They have come through so much.
“It was painful for Jill and I as parents to watch our sons go through that.
“When you see them suffer, you also feel the emotions and pain.
“It was a devastating feeling in the family. Jill and I, none of us had it before and we were desperately looking at the family tree but, again, nobody talked about it back in the day.”
The foundation was created in 2003 and works to help sufferers access better treatment.
Founder Derek McEwan, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Alex to the foundation as our first ambassador.
“Alex is a massive international figur,e so to have his support means the world to us.
“He is hugely enthusiastic about working with us and we are very excited and honoured to welcome him to the foundation family.”